Santa Fe, New Mexico does not sound like a typical destination for a first overseas adventure, but that is where Holy Rosary Primary School principal Noel Dillon’s first international journey took him.

Mr Dillon and parent Dean Bibby represented the school and Sandhurst Diocese on a study tour which focused on parental engagement in schools.

The tour was hosted by The Centre for Relational Learning in Santa Fe.

Mr Dillon, one of seven Sandhurst Diocese principals on the trip, said statistics presented to visitors showed 20 per cent of students’ learning habits evolved in a school and 80 per cent outside of school.

‘‘The statistics showed engaging parents to be more involved in school will change those percentages,’’ Mr Dillon said.

‘‘Dads in education was a major focus.

‘‘Statistics are saying one in three children with absent dads are at high risk of committing a crime, suicide or getting involved in trouble.’’